The paper presents a new idea of foil water-lubricated bearing and the methodology of hydrodynamic characteristics calculations. Two different computer models were built in order to assess the theoretical characteristics of these bearings. Firstly a structural model coupled with a hydrodynamic fluid model which takes into account: fluid flow in the deformed fluid gap — a specific design of bearing support and the friction in bearing support. The second model is based on the fluid structure interaction simulation. Due to the fact that it is necessary to define physical properties of the materials for computer models, special tribology and stiffness tests of actual materials intended to be used in the prototype bearing were performed.
The test rig was modernised by installing pressure sensors on bush perimeter in two parallel planes in order to verify the method of the calculation of the bearing.
